A new meta-analysis has identified cesarean delivery and antibiotic use as significant drivers of antibiotic resistance genes in infants. The study highlights the need for interventions to reduce antibiotic resistance in this vulnerable population.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health emergency, with drug-resistant infections killing over 1.27 million people annually. Infants are particularly susceptible to AMR due to their immature immune systems and diverse gut microbiota. This study analyzed data from 1,275 infants in 10 countries to investigate the factors influencing antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) load and mobile genetic element (MGE) abundance in the gut.
The results showed that antibiotic use, cesarean delivery, and prematurity were significantly associated with increased ARG and MGE abundance and reduced beneficial gut microbe diversity. Vaginal birth, on the other hand, was linked to lower ARG abundance but higher ARG diversity. The study also identified Escherichia coli as the main host of ARGs in the infant gut, with nearly half of the ARGs co-localized with plasmids, enabling efficient transfer between bacteria. The authors emphasized the urgent need for targeted interventions, such as probiotics, to reduce antibiotic resistance in infants and address the global AMR crisis.
